MinerAlert
MinerAlert
June 2026
By Alexandra Sanchez, ’17
From a small city in Chihuahua, Mexico to building a career in data science, Arturo Schiaffino broke barriers and paved the path for his family and students who aspire to study engineering from his hometown.
Originally from Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Schiaffino came to The University of Texas at El Paso in 2011 after already making an impact as a high school student in Mexico. He and his classmates won a national prototype competition, presented their work at a national science fair, and even represented Mexico at one of the world’s largest science fairs in Brazil. They also were presented with a medal from former Mexican President Calderón.
“That experience opened my eyes,” Schiaffino said. “I realized the world was really big, and I wanted to experience some of it.”
Looking for a strong engineering program close to home, he found ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. With support from a scholarship and the state of Chihuahua, he enrolled in mechanical engineering and earned his bachelor’s degree in 2016, followed by a master’s degree in 2018.
However, the move to El Paso wasn’t easy. Schiaffino was raised by a single mother and came to the United States carrying both financial pressure and the emotional weight of being away from home. He also remembers people doubting whether a student from a public school in Mexico could really make it at a university in the U.S. He proved them wrong.
At ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, Schiaffino found more than a degree. He found confidence, community and a new understanding of who he could become.
“I thought I was just good at math and engineering,” he said. “But ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ showed me I could also connect with people and lead.”
During his time on campus, Schiaffino stayed busy. He worked as an orientation leader, math tutor and teaching assistant. He got involved with student government, international student programs and even took swimming classes — something he laughs about now but says it showed just how much ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ expanded his world.
One of the biggest influences during graduate school was his advisor, Vinod Kumar, who helped open professional doors and gave him the chance to lead a Multiphysics program at Tecnológico de Monterrey. That opportunity allowed him to reconnect with Mexico while giving back to students there.
Today, Schiaffino works as a senior data science analyst for Freeport-McMoRan. His work combines coding, engineering and large-scale mechanical systems. He develops software that monitors mining equipment, reads sensor data and helps teams make decisions about machine performance, maintenance and operations in the field.
For Schiaffino, getting there took persistence. As an international student, finding a company willing to sponsor him was one of the toughest parts of the journey. He went through many interviews before finding the right opportunity.
As meaningful as his own success has been, what matters most to Schiaffino is what it has meant for his family. He was the first of his siblings to attend ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. Today, one sister is a professional engineer, another is pursuing her Ph.D. at Emory University, and his family’s path has changed in ways he once could only imagine.
Wanting to create that same opportunity for others, Schiaffino established the Grajeda Fund, named after his maternal grandparents. The scholarship supports students from his former STEM high school in Cuauhtémoc who want to pursue science and engineering degrees at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ.
His advice to future students is simple: ask questions.
“Don’t be afraid to speak up,” he said. “At ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, people want to help you. Be bold, be clear and make sure your voice is heard.”
Looking ahead, Schiaffino hopes to move into a leadership role where he can guide teams of engineers and programmers. But no matter where his career takes him, he says ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ will always be part of the foundation.
“¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ changed my life,” he said. “Not just mine — my family’s too.”